I am very excited to announce today that our new PSP title, TACTICS OGRE: Let Us Cling Together, is coming to Europe very soon.

TACTICS OGRE is one of the most beloved Strategy RPG titles of all time, with the game being the only one to place in top rankings in the Japanese gaming magazine Weekly Famitsu’s “Top 20 games voted by readers” for 14 years running. Sadly, the original version of the game was never officially published in Europe, however, that is about to be rectified in spectacular fashion…

“Long ago, Power was everything. It was a time called Xytegenia, where metal and evil, enshrouded in darkness, was in control.”

We have launched a new website, eu.tacticsogregame.com, where you can find more information.

Please feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below; I’m looking forward to hearing from you all.

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While this week is quiet one for new content, it’s an update full of mystery. One of the benefits of our new Home Square is that we can, from time to time, make changes to the content found within the space. Over the coming weeks your Home Square will take on a new look as the current mini-games make way for a new series of features and mini-games.

Our first such change will happen this week, with Shooting Hoops making way for a visit from a wise old man. Those who approach the wise man may be gifted with a cryptic message in the form of a philosophical saying. Can you decipher the mystery of the wise man?

Drop into the stores this week to pick up some great gear from Lockwood. Included in this week’s release are animated sneakers and hoodies (both male and female) and cropped tops with tattoos (female). The Mui Mui Ship could be worth a visit this week as well, with the latest update to the Loco Roco store including another wacky new hat.

We’ve been tracking strong demand on the official forums for an expansion to the variety of female clothing. To help us pinpoint specific content, we’re updating the Polling Booth – which should be more stable after maintenance completes – with a new question asking for community feedback on preferences.

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As hype builds in preparation for San Diego Comic Con in North America, we’ll be updating the EU PlayStation.Blog with a raft of DC Universe Online news over the coming week.

And where better to start than with the confirmation that two fan favorites and top notch VO veterans will provide voices for the upcoming action MMO. Check out the below from SOE:

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced today that two of animation’s most well-known talents lead a triple-A cast of voice actors in providing their skills for the upcoming online action game, DC Universe™ Online. Mark Hamill (Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: The Animated Series) will once again voice The Joker, while Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League Unlimited, Batman: Arkham Asylum) brings to life everyone’s favorite dark knight, Batman.

“We’re excited that not only will Mark and Kevin bring their talent back to the DC Universe as part of DC Universe Online, but we’ve hit the jackpot with a full cast that are veterans of all the movies, TV shows, and games that our fans are crazy about,” said Sony Online Entertainment Vice President of Development John Blakely. “Several of these actors are recognized as the definitive voices for these characters, and will help us in creating an authentic and exciting experience for fans when they get in the game.”

Besides becoming an international pop-culture icon as the protagonist in George Lucas’s original Star Wars trilogy, Mark Hamill’s career has encompassed virtually all aspect of modern media available to an actor – stage, screen, television, movies and video games. He has performed in hundreds of TV cartoons: Batman: The Animated Series, The Simpsons, Ren & Stimpy, Samurai Jack, Spider-Man, Powerpuff Girls, The Hulk, Fantastic Four, Little Mermaid, Phantom 2040, Johnny Bravo, Fairly Odd Parents, The Flintstones, Jonny Quest and Scooby Doo. He’s also provided his voice for several animated feature films: Joseph, Prince of Dreams, Balto II, Wizards, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker, for which he received two “Annie” award nominations.

Kevin Conroy is best known to audiences for his role as Batman in Batman: The Animated Series. Conroy continued to voice Batman in the subsequent series The New Batman Adventures, Batman Beyond, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited. His tenure in the role also includes the films Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman. He also voiced Batman for the character’s guest appearances in Superman: The Animated Series, Static Shock, and The Zeta Project. Conroy has also voiced Batman in the DC Universe animated original movies Batman: Gotham Knight, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, and Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. In a full tally of his performances, Conroy has portrayed the superhero longer than any other actor in either live-action or animation.

The rest of the cast will provide voices for the following iconic characters: (more…)

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As I’m sure you’re acutely aware, Comic-Con 2010 is finally upon us. While the whole world (and his/her dog) descends in droves to the San Diego Convention Center, some of us have been left behind to make sure you all have some nice new books to read. Jealous? You bet.

Luckily, this week sees a veritable plethora of eye-catching new releases to, erm, catch your eye.
Ever fancy sinking your teeth into a nearby nubile neck? Longing for some erotically-charged romance, wry humour and intriguing mystery and suspense? Fill your boots with True Blood, an all-new comic book series based on HBO’s hit show about the lives and loves of vampires, mind readers and all manner of creatures. Bon Temps, Louisiana has never been stranger, or more twisted, in a story co-plotted by TRUE BLOOD series creator Alan Ball, with a script by David Tischman (Bite Club) and Mariah Huehner, and lush art by David Messina (Star Trek: Countdown).

Turning the tables somewhat, IDW also bring us a new volume of Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D from Digital Manga Publishing. A new breed of vampire has emerged; one which can seemingly hunt during the daytime. O-oh. Losing the safety daylight offers, panic and mass hysteria begins to grip the townspeople—inciting riots and lynch-mobs. Amidst the turmoil, the enigmatic vampire slayer known only as “D” is called in to investigate.

Jeff Smith’s beloved award-winning epic “Bone” and the ongoing “RASL” make their PSP debuts this week under the Cartoon Books imprint. Jeff will be making a number of appearances during Comic-Con – check out boneville.com for more info.

Matthew Michael “Matt” Murdock, or Daredevil as he’s known to everyone except his dear old mother (who probably calls him “Matty”) leaps out of Hell’s Kitchen once again in the groundbreaking “Without Fear” story arc. Check out the star-studded, triple-sized 100th issue for additional WIN.

That’s just some of the highlights. Here’s the full list.

• 2000AD Prog #1689 – 2000AD
• Astonishing Tales (2009) – #6 Marvel
• Azure #2 – DC Comics
• Bayou #3 & #4 – DC Comics
• Bone #1 – Cartoon Books
• DMZ #14: Public Works #2 – DC Comics
• Daredevil (1998) #100-#103 - Marvel
• Eleventh Hour #4 – Markosia
• Fables #16: Storybook Love #3 – DC Comics
• Gen13 #22 – DC Comics
• Green Lantern: Secret Origin #5 – DC Comics
• High Moon #4 – DC Comics
• Kingdom Come #2 – DC Comics
• Project Eon #3 – Markosia
• RASL #1 - Cartoon Books
• Red Faction: Armageddon #0 (FREE!) - DC Comics
• Red Faction: Guerrilla #1 – DC Comics
• Stormwatch PHD #14 – DC Comics
• Superman/Batman #26 – DC Comics
• The Authority #2 – DC Comics
• The Invaders (1975) #5-#8 – Marvel
• The Lexian Chronicles – Markosia
• The Night Owls #3 – DC Comics
• The Unwritten #3 – DC Comics
• True Blood #1 – IDW
• Vampire Hunter D Volume 2: Chapter #1 – IDW
• Wildcats #2 – DC Comics

We’ll be blogging and tweeting regularly during Comic-con (we’ve sent a crack team of glamourous spies to get the lowdown) so stay tuned to playstationcomics.com, where you can also see prices, age ratings or the whole catalogue.

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Releasing today across all PlayStation Stores we have two great new minis titles: the icy puzzler Arctic Adventures Polar’s Puzzles and the hotly anticipated new title from Frima Studio, Young Thor. Check them out below.

Young Thor by Frima Studio

Frima Studio have already launched two minis titles, the brilliant Zombie Tycoon and Widgets Odyssey, but Young Thor could very well be their best yet. A fresh take on iconic Norse Mythology, the game has been inspired by some of the best action-platformers and beat-em up brawlers around.

Have you ever dreamed that nothing could stop you because of the prodigious power you wield, because you are a god? As Young Thor, god of thunder, unleash your fifteen devastating attacks and magical powers on the myriad of enemies that lurk in Midgard, the land of man, and in Asgard, land of the gods. Explore four vast environments in your quest for the eight artifacts that will help you defeat Hel and her two cursed allies, Ratatoskr and Nidhogg, and rescue the three Norns, Urd, Skuld and Verdandi. Prepare to embark on an epic journey to save the world tree, Yggdrasil, and with it, all life in both realms. It’s hammer time!

With over a dozen different attacks and special powers, 50 different in-game achievables to unlock and an addictive leveling and experience system that will let you strengthen your stats to level 99.

Built specifically for minis it looks and plays great on both PSP and PS3, so what are you waiting for?

For more info check out the game page on PlayStation.com or take a look at http://youngthor.com/

Arctic Adventures: Polar’s Puzzles by Eiconic Games Ltd.

If the heat of battle is not for you, then how about a cool puzzle game? If so, there is only one question you need to ask yourself – are you smarter than the average bear?

Help Polar solve all 50 brain-freezing puzzle levels. Use snow, ice, metal and dynamite blocks to crack these conundrums. Achieve the Move and Time targets for each puzzle and collect all 150 Gold Stars.

The game includes over 20 hours of gameplay* spanning the Icy Wastes, across The Frozen Sea, through The Twilight Forest to the Edge of the World and on to the Oil Rig.

* Number of hours based on a normal human being; actual hours of gameplay may vary depending on the puzzle solving, ninja skills of the player.

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